Garter clasp



April 21, v G. COREL 2,037,763

' GARTER cLAsPv Filed Feb. l5,- 1955 IN VEN TOR.

`Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARTER CLASP Victoria Grace Corel, San Leandro, Calif.

Application February 15, 1935, Serial No. 6,721

16 Claims. (Cl. 24-248) This invention, a garter clasp, provides a very vdesirable clasp for hose supporters, and is adaptable for the support of either mens or womens hose.

The usual garter clasp h-as many disadvantageous features, including bulkiness, protrusion of elements which is unsightly, since these protruding elements readily identify theirl position through the clothing; also gathering of the top of the hose, permitting the stocking to draw or bunch, and, small support area, causing runs and tearing of the stocking.

This inventionprovides a garter clasp which overcomes all of the above outlined disadvantageous features, being flat and having no protruding p-arts, and being comfortable due to its specic form and compa-ctness, and holds the gripped portion of the hose in spread fashion permitting no gathering o-r bunching, has both primary and secondary securing means which in combination firmly support the hose, is easily released, and canot cause runs or tears, due to the particular arrangement of the elements and their cooperation with the hose, the area of support being very large.

The objects of the invention are as follows:

First; To provide a garter clasp which'has no protruding parts and which is ilat, and therefore will not identify its location through the clothing.

Second; To provide a device as outlined which maintains the gripped portion of the stocking in spread condition.

Third; To provide a device of the character outlined which grips the stocking over a large area, preventing damage to the stocking.

Fourth; To provide the garter clasp with both primary and secondary supporting means, and in which the secondary supporting means is controlled by the primary supporting means.

Fifth; To provide a device of the character outlined which is easily applied and released at will, but which is positive in its cooperation with the stocking.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will' become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is the preferred form of the invention, shown kin front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.v

a stocking top.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a modified form of the invention shown in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the invention, and is a projection of Fig. 4 shown in open position.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line I-B of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front View of another modication of the invention. Y

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

The invention, in any of the modifications or preferred form, includes two gripping frames forming the secondary securing and supporting means consisting respectively of inner frame Ill and outer frame II, and these frames are complementarily formed, so that the inner frame fits within the outer frame, with just suflicient clearance to grip the material of the stocking therebetween and yet allow the inner frame to enter the outer frame.

The side members of each frame are undulating in form as shown, each having a plurality of undulations to provide large contact area and varied angular reactionary gripping lines as related to the axis of the stocking.

The inner and outer frames lare hingedly secured together by means of their top bars in a common connection, the connection being immovable relative tothe outer frame and hingedly related to the inner frame.

As shown in Fig. 1, the clasp also includes an eye, I2 for attachment of the elastic support I3, and the eye I2, inner frameA I0 and outer frame II. are all mounted in a single hinge-connection I4, with the outer frame II secured against rotation or swinging relative to the connection I4, as by means of the upturned ends of the top cross bar of the outer frame, as indicated at I5, while the inner frame is hinged in the connection and permitted to swing relative to the outer frame.

Thus the inner frame can be swung toI a position angularly related to the outer frame as indicated in Fig. 5, while the outer frame is rigidly secured in connection I4, and the inner frame can not swing planetarily -about the top bar of the outer frame. This feature is of great importance, since, without it, the primary support or securing means may fail to hold the stocking securely and release the secondary support, since the secondary support is dependent upon the primary support for its effectiveness. Other means, such as spot welding or denting may be employed to immovably securerthe outer frame relative tothe connection.

The primaryV securing means consists of a 'metal clamp I6 hinged on the lower cross bar I1 of the inner frame intermediate the length of the clamp, forming a double-ended lever, one end I8 of which clampingly cooperates with the cross bar II as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, and the other end of which is pronged, or provided with securing fingers I9 which cooperate with the inside surface of the lowest return bends of the lowest undulations as indicated at 20, these iingers being concavely formed and snapping into place by pressure applied to the front of the upper lever of the clamp.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the clamp member' is pro'- vided with securing elements 2l which engage the top surface of the first undulation above the rst return bend 20, and which clamps over, otherwise being similar and. operating similarly to the foregoing. Either system of securing this element operates satisfactorily.

The head portion however, is formed differently in that the eye 22 and outer frame II are formed integrally, and the connection 23 is thereby prevented from turning relative to these two elements, while the inner frame Ill can be swung out as shown in Fig. 5. Thus the desired effect is produced directly; rigidly related eye, outer frame and connection, and hinged inner frame maintained against planetary movement relative to the top cross bar of the outer frame.

In Figs. 7 and 8, the eye is omitted, however, the connection 24 is Xedly secured to the outer l frame, as by denting as shown at 25, while` the inner frame is free to swing in the connection.

Another feature which is very important, and which definitely influences the efficiency of the clasp through the medium of the clamp I5 is that the frame I I must be secured against spreading, therefore, the ends. 2G of the frame may be butt welded, or the upper bar 21 may be annularly grooved as shown at 28, the grooves cooperating with the indents 29.

The most important features are that the inner frame must be secured against any planetary movement relative to the top bar of the outer frame, and the outer frame must not spread, as either type of movement would cause release of the clamp or primary securing means.

As will be noted, the top 3i) of the stocking is placed between the inner and outer frames as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the clamp member I 8 forcing a portion of the stocking through above the lower cross bar of the outer frame, and as the member I 6 is swung up and snapped into position between or over the undulating elements of the frame, the inturned portion of the stocking is clamped against the obverse side of the cross bar, and the spread upper portion of the stocking top is secured between the unduating side members of the frames. In this manner, both primary and secondary supports are provided, and the secondary support is dependent upon the primary support for its operation.

There is but little effective pull tending to open the clamp, since the pull is primarily over the cross bar of the outer frame, indicated at 3|, over which the portion cf the stocking is wrapped, therefore, if the top cross member of frame I0 is secured against planetary motion relative to the top` cross member of the outer frame I I, the clamp cannot release, but is readily released at will by exerting a pressure outwardly on the end 32 of the clamp, to release the member from cooperation with the undulations.

It will be understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts, which variations are consistent with the appended claims,

may be resorted to, without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacricing any of the advantages thereof.

1. A garter clasp, in combination, primary stocking-supporting means, and secondary stocking-supporting means controlled by the primary stocking-supporting means, said secondary stocking-supporting means consisting of two complementarily formed frames, each frame having undulating side members, one frame tting entirely within the other whereby the two frames occupy thev same plane in intertting position, the primary stocking-supporting means cooperating between the two frames.

2. A garter casp, in combination, primary stocking-supporting means, and secondary stocking-supporting means controlled by the primary stocking-supporting means, said secondary stocking supporting means supporting the stocking over a comparativey large area and maintaining the area in spread formation, and consisting of two complementarily formed frames, each frame having undulating side members, one frame ntting entirey within the other whereby thetwo frames occupy the same plane in intertting position, the primary supporting means cooperating between the two frames.

3. A garter clasp, in combination, primary supporting means, and secondary supporting means controlled by the primary supporting means, said occupy the same plane in interfitting position, s

said primary supporting means cooperating between the two frames', said frames being secured against planetary movement relative to each other While permitting the inner frame to swing relative to the outer frame, and being maintained against spreading.

4. A garter clasp, in combination, primary supporting means, and secondary supporting means controlled by said primary supporting means, said secondary supporting means supporting a stocking over a comparatively large area in spread formation, and consisting of two complementarily formed, interfltting frames, each of which frames have undulating side members and fitting one entirely within the other to occupy the same plane in intertting position, said primary supporting means cooperating between the two frames, said frames being secured against planetary movement relative to each other while permitting swinging movement of one relative to the other, the inner of said two frames being secured against spreading. Y

5. A garter clasp, in combination, an outer frame having undulating side members, an inner frame tting entirely within the outer frame and occupying the same plane in interfitting position and having undulating side members, and a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking by both, frictional and clamping cooperation between the frames.

6. A garter clasp, in combination, an outer frame, an inner frame tting entirely within the outer frame, said frames being movably connected together whereby one may swing outwardly relative to the other, and a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking and being secured by frictional cooperation with the inner frame. said frames being complementarily formed and each frame having undulating side members to provide large gripping area for the stocking and supporting the area in spread arangement and -preventing bunching.

7. A garter clasp, in combination, an outer frame having undulating side members, an in- -ner frame having undulating side members tting entirely Within the outer frame and occu- `,pying the same plane in interfitting position, a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking and being secured by cooperation with the inner frame, and means maintaining said inner frame against planetary movement relative to said outer frame while permitting swinging movement of one relative to the other.

8. A garter clasp, in combination an outer frame, an inner frame tting entirely within the outer frame, a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking and being secured by engaging cooperation with the inner frame, said frames being movably connected together to permit one to swing outwardly relative to the other, and being complementarily formed and each frame having undulating side membersproviding comparatively large gripping area for the stocking and supporting the area in spread formation and preventing bunching.

9. A garter clasp, in combination, primary supporting means, secondary supporting means controlled by the primary means, said secondary supporting means consisting of two complementarily formed frames, each frame having undulating side members, one frame fitting entirely within the other to occupy the same plane in intertting position, said primary supporting means cooperating between the two frames, and an eye xedly secured relative to the outer frame.

10. A garter clasp, in combination, primary supporting means, secondary supporting means controlled by the primary supporting means, said secondary supporting means supporting the stocking over a comparatively large -area and maintaining the area in spread formation and consisting of two complementarily formed, intertting frames, each frame having undulating side members and one fitting entirely within the other to occupy the same plane in intertting position the primary supporting means cooperating between the frames, and an eye Xedly secured relative to the outer of the two frames.

11. A garter clasp, in combination, an outer frame having undulating side members, an inner frame having undulating side members tting entirely within the outer frame and occupying the same plane in intertting position, and a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking coincidently by means of the clamp, and between the frames, and an eye xedly secured relative to the outer frame.

12. A garter clasp, in combination, an outer frame and an inner frame movably connected together to permit one to swing outwardly relative to the other, said inner frame tting entirely within the outer frame to occupy the same plane in intertting position, and a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking and being secured by engagement with the inner frame, said frames being complementarily formed and each frame having undulating side members to provide large gripping area for the stocking and supporting the area in spread formation and preventing bunching, and an eye, fixed relative to the outer frame and movable relative to the in- E secured by cooperation with the inner frame, and

means maintaining said inner frame against 4planetary movement relative to said outer frame while permitting swinging movement of one relative to the other, and means securing the inner frame against spreading, and an eye fixed relative to the outer frame.

14. A garter clasp, in combination, an outer frame and an inner frame movably connected together to permit one to swing outwardly relative to the other while securing one against planetary movement relative to the other, said inner frame tting entirely within the outer frame to occupy the same plane in intertting position, a clamp hinged on the inner frame and cooperating with the outer frame to secure a stocking and being secured by engaging cooperation with the inner frame, said frames being complementarily formed and each frame having undulating side members providing comparatively large gripping area for the stocking and supporting the area in spread formation and preventing bunching, means securing the two frames against planetary movement relative to each other, means securing the inner frame against spreading, and means for securing an elastic support to said clasp.

15.A garter clasp comprising an outer fram having a top bar, a bottom bar, and undulating side members, a complementarily formed inner frame fitting Within the outer frame, said top bars being swingably related to each other and maintained against planetary movement relative to each other, and a clamp hingedly mounted on the bottom bar of the inner frame and clampingly related to the bottom bar of the outer frame at one of its ends, the other end of the clamp being engageably cooperable with one pair of mating undulating elements for securing the clamp in stocking securing position.

16. A garter clasp, comprising an outer frame having a top bar, a bottom bar, and undulating side members, a complementarily formed interfitting frame, said top bars being swingably related to each other, means securing the inner frame against planetary movement relative to the top bar of the outer frame, means securing the inner frame against spreading, and means cooperating between the bottom bars and the undulations of the inner frame for securing a stocking, said frames forming secondary supporting means supporting a comaratively large area of stocking in spread formation and pre- Venting bunching.

VICTORIA GRACE COREL. 

